# Prades

A red-stone village high in the Muntanyes de Prades, with a fountain shaped like a globe, forest all around and dark skies. You can see it in a morning and it begs you to stay the night.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## How do I get there and where do I park?

Prades is up high, at 950 metres, at the end of twisty roads that climb from the Camp de Tarragona and from the Conca de Barberà. By car it is about 60 minutes from Tarragona or Lleida, about 2 hours from Barcelona and almost 3 from Girona. The old town, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave the car in the streets outside the wall and walk in through the gate at the square.

There is a coach stop at Plaça de Sant Roc and a taxi in the village, but timetables are sparse: for a getaway, the car is the practical choice.

## How much time do I need?

The old town takes an hour. With the Roca Foradada or the Abellera hermitage, which start on foot from the village, you fill a morning. If you want to see the sky at the astronomical park, which runs at night, stay overnight. On festival Sundays (the Pagesia in October, Prades Bosc at the end of the month) the square fills up: arrive before ten.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Prades Mountains, Starry skies in Spain
- Cerca: Siurana (a 7.3 km), Priorat (a 19.0 km), Penedès (a 67.8 km), Sitges (a 68.9 km)

## Qué hacer
- **A walk around the *vila vermella*, from the gateway to the wall** (1 h · 1.1 km · All ages, with a pushchair around the square · Self-guided · free): What it is
Prades, 50 km from Tarragona, is the Vila Vermella, the red village: many of its buildings are made with the reddish sandstone of the area, which gives the village its colour. This walk is route 1 of the fountains proposed by the Town Council: a 1.1 km circular walk, with only 16 m of ascent, that tours the old town from gateway to wall. It takes an unhurried hour, free and self-guided.
The centre is declared a historic ensemble. Its triangular shape is set by the wall, and the square, the church, the castle and the walls were, from the Middle Ages, the elements that organised the town. Prades was a market town, with a weekly market documented since 1200, and the seat of the Counts of Prades.
The route step by step

The square gateway and the boundary cross. The cross has welcomed those arriving since the 13th century. Before going in, look at the remains of wall fused with the houses and the gateway with large voussoirs and its machicolation above.
The Plaça Major and the Renaissance fountain. Wide and arcaded, it is the heart of the village. In the centre, the red-stone fountain in the shape of a globe with four bronze spouts facing the cardinal points, the symbol of Prades.
The church of Santa Maria la Major. The first document that mentions it is a bull of Pope Celestine III from 1194. It is a building in transition from Romanesque to Gothic, with a Renaissance façade. Look at the porta falsa, the Romanesque doorway on the left side, which was the main entrance.
Carrer Major, with notable doorways on some houses.
Plaça de la Pau, also called Plaça dels Alls (garlic), because the market was held there, or Plaça de l’Ou (egg), because of its shape. It has a push-button fountain that gushes from a rock about two metres high.
The Arc de Ponos, a Gothic gateway opened to improve access to the town.
The Costa del Castell, the street with the most red stone per square metre in the village.
The remains of the castle and the castle church of Sant Miquel. Few remains are left. It was the seat of the Counts of Prades until the chancery moved to the castle of Falset. Margarida de Prades, of this lineage, married King Martin the Humane.
Plaça dels Infants, with the old Town Hall and a fountain; it used to be the school playground.
El Planet del Pont. The house to the right of the bridge is the oldest in the town, from the 13th century, built on the ashlars of the wall.
The Font d’en Grau park, with a play area, a menhir-shaped fountain and the natural spring to which medicinal properties are attributed, next to the municipal swimming pools.
The defence tower and the wall. You can still follow almost the whole perimeter of the fortified enclosure.

Information and map
Start at the tourist office, at Carrer Muralla, 3, first floor, which is also the Centre d’Interpretació de les Muntanyes de Prades. There you can get the 2026 cultural route map. It is open Monday to Friday mornings, until 15:00, Tuesday until 16:30, Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 to 14:00. Telephone 977 868 302.
Getting there and parking
Prades is 50 km from Tarragona along mountain roads. Leave your car outside the old town and walk in: it is small and has narrow streets. The coach stops at Plaça de Sant Roc, with few timetables; check the coach and taxi stop.
With children and with a dog
It is a short, flat walk for its setting, with fountains in every square and the Font d’en Grau park to end up playing. With a pushchair, the Plaça Major and the main streets are fine; on the Costa del Castell, the cobbles and the slope make it difficult. Dogs can come, on a lead.
- **Roca Foradada, the red stone arch beside the village** (1 h · 1.5 km · Families, with little ascent · Self-guided · free): What it is
The Roca Foradada is a large natural arch opened by erosion in the reddish rock of the Muntanyes de Prades. It is 1.5 km from the village, along a short path with little ascent that the Town Council recommends for families. Next to the arch there is a picnic area and a small pond. It is an outing of a little under an hour there and back, plus the time you spend there, free and self-guided.
The path step by step

Tourist office. Leave the office, on Carrer Muralla, and take Carrer de la Caballa on the right. Follow a path lined with mulberry trees.
Hermitage of Sant Antoni. About 200 m along you have it on the right. At its foot is the Font de Sant Antoni, which always flows.
The pond and the tarmac. Continue along the street, which turns first right and then left, passing near a pond, to the start of a tarmac stretch.
The fork. Keep left, climbing the tarmac track.
The dirt track. Further up, take a dirt track on the right signposted to the Roca Foradada, with a chain that stops vehicles.
The Roca Foradada. The path crosses the woods and reaches the picnic area and the small lake. On the left is the arch.

Nearby is also the Font de la Foradada, which always flows and has a high iron content.
Combining it with the hermitage
It is route 5 of the Prades fountains, which links the Roca Foradada with the hermitages of Sant Antoni, Sant Roc and the l’Abellera hermitage. Both start from the same point, the tourist office, and share the beginning: if you have a morning, you can do both.
When to go
All year. In summer, go early or late in the day to avoid the heat. In autumn you can combine it with the autumn festivals on the Plaça Major. In the rain, the rock and the earth are slippery.
With children and with a dog
It is Prades’ outing for small children: short, with barely any climb, with a stone arch to get into and a lake on arrival. The last stretch is dirt: with babies, a baby carrier is better than a pushchair. Dogs can come, on a lead.
Before setting off
Bring water: the Town Council warns that the springs outside the village have no health guarantee, even though they flow all year. Don’t light fires in the picnic area and take your litter with you. In summer, check the fire risk level on the Generalitat’s Pla Alfa, which can restrict access to the woods.
- **The Abellera hermitage, wedged into the cliff** (2 km · Families and teenagers · Free · €20 deposit for the key): What it is
The hermitage of the Mare de Déu de l’Abellera is set in a cave, at the foot of a cliff that reaches 1,020 m in altitude, about 2 km from Prades. The cave had served as a refuge, and the hermitage, possibly from 1570 and much altered afterwards, was fitted inside it. The double-gable bell tower was probably built in 1578. From the enclosure you see the valley, the hills and, in the distance, the plain, with woods everywhere and old chestnut groves now abandoned.
The name comes from bees (abelles). According to legend, a shepherd found the image in a holm oak where he went to look for honey. Inside the hermitage there were beehives with their honeycombs, and that is why the Virgin’s crown, from 1956, bears fifty silver bees with their queen. She is the patron saint of Catalan beekeepers, and one of the few Virgins depicted nursing the Child. The present image is from 1940, a faithful copy of the previous one.
Getting there on foot
It is the prettiest way up, along the old path that passes the hermitages of Sant Antoni and Sant Roc:

From the tourist office, take Carrer de la Caballa on the right and follow a path lined with mulberry trees. About 200 m along is the hermitage of Sant Antoni, on the right.
Continue along the street, which turns right and then left, passing near a pond, to the start of a tarmac stretch.
From there a path leaves to the right with signposts to “Ermita de St. Roc” and “Capafonts per l’Abellera”. Follow it: it turns right and then left, with a hazelnut field on the left. Ignore a path that leaves to the left towards some fields.
The path climbs between red rocks, marked with white and yellow marks, to a tarmac track that you take to the left.
Soon afterwards you reach the hermitage of Sant Roc. Follow the track, pass a parking area and you reach l’Abellera.

Allow about 2 km each way. The climb has some slope between the rocks: wear closed shoes.
Getting there by car
Leave Prades in the direction of Capafonts and La Febró. About 500 m along, the sign for the l’Abellera hermitage appears on the left. Follow the tarmac track to the esplanade of the Sant Roc hermitage and continue to the free l’Abellera car park, a few metres from the hermitage.
The key to the enclosure
The hermitage enclosure is locked. To get in, ask for the key at the tourist office, at Carrer Muralla, 3:

It is lent free, always during office hours, with a €20 cash deposit that is returned when you bring it back.
It opens the enclosure, not the chapel: the building stays closed.
You can keep it for a maximum of 2 hours and must return it 30 minutes before the office closes.
The same person who left the deposit returns it.
If the office is closed, ask at the Town Hall.

The office is open Monday to Friday mornings, until 15:00 (Tuesday until 16:30), Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 to 14:00. Telephone 977 868 302.
When the chapel opens
The hermitage opens inside on two special dates: Easter Monday, in the morning, and the first Saturday of September, with an offering to the Virgin and mass. On Easter Monday and on 8 September, the day of the Marededéus, many people go up.
With children and with a dog
The walk up is short and entertaining, with two hermitages on the way and red rocks to scramble over. By car you can get almost to the door, which makes it easy for all ages. In the enclosure, keep an eye on children near the edge of the cliff. With a dog, on a lead.
- **A night of stars at the Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades** (Families, from age 2 depending on the session · Desde 15 € per person): The sessions are divided into an indoor part, with a projection and explanation, and an outdoor part, at the telescopes, with a break in between. If the sky clouds over, the outdoor part depends on the weather and you can come back another day to do it.
What it is and why it is worth it
Prades is a village of reddish stone high in the mountains of the same name, inland in Tarragona, far from the light of the coastal cities. Its sky has Starlight destination recognition, and the astronomy park makes use of it with sessions for the general public: you start at the visitor centre with a show in a room and, once it is dark, you go out to the observation point to look through large telescopes with someone explaining what you are seeing.
The appeal is in the order. The session is scheduled so that, when you go out, it is completely dark, even though the indoor part still begins in daylight. Between the two there is a free break for a snack or dinner in the village.
Which session to choose
Selene is a trip to the Moon with Dr Selene and Nix, designed for families with children under 8, and it also ends at the telescopes. Gaia tells the story of the formation of the Earth; it is a show for adults that works with children over 8. Kosmic is a tribute to Carl Sagan with images taken under some of the best skies in the world, and is recommended from age 12 because of the vocabulary. There is also an outdoor-observation-only option, which the park does not recommend as a first choice. For a longer night, the park also organises dinners under the stars with their own calendar.
Getting there
The visitor centre is at Carrer Muralla 5, second floor, in the centre of Prades. From Barcelona you take the A-2 towards Vilafranca del Penedès and Montblanc, the N-240 to l’Espluga de Francolí and, at Vimbodí, the TV-7004 towards Vilanova de Prades. From Lleida, the AP-2 to l’Albi and then the LP-7013. The last 200 metres to the observation point have no light.
When to go
There are sessions all year in the website calendar, and no time slot is better than another. What changes the experience most is the moon. If you want to see the Moon in detail, go at first quarter. If you want a dark sky for galaxies and nebulae, look for new moon or waning moon. The park links to a lunar calendar.
How much it costs
Selene costs €15 for ages 2 to 5, €17 for 6 to 12 and €20 from 13. Gaia and Kosmic, €17 for ages 2 to 12, €25 for 13 to 64 and €23 from 65. The outdoor-only option, €20 for all ages. There are no discounts other than age ones, but gift vouchers are accepted.
If it is cloudy
The sessions go ahead even if the forecast is bad. If it is overcast or raining, you can come back another day to do the outdoor part or the part that could not be completed. The indoor part is held regardless.
- **Camí del Pla and Pla de la Guàrdia circular walk** (11 km · Teenagers and adults used to walking · Self-guided · free): What it is
It is route 2 of the Prades fountains, which the Town Council calls Camí del Pla i Pla de la Guàrdia: an 11 km circular walk with 590 m of ascent that leaves the village, follows the long straight of the Camí del Pla and climbs to the summit of the Pla de la Guàrdia, at 1,125 m, with views over the Muntanyes de Prades. On the way you pass three constantly flowing springs, another that flows only sometimes and a monumental tree. It is free and self-guided, for people used to walking; allow half a day with stops.
The route step by step

The start and the Camí del Pla. You leave the village along the long straight of the Camí del Pla, a flat stretch towards La Febró and Capafonts.
Font del Victorino or Font Perers del Perdiu. 2 km from the village, in the Debeses area, on the mountainside. It flows constantly, although without a stone rim, and has a bench made from a large trunk next to it.
Font del Cap del Pla. At the end of the long flat straight, also constantly flowing.
The monumental tree, a centuries-old perelloner cisterer (Cistercian wild pear tree).
Font del Pu. Next to the path to the Pla de la Guàrdia, with benches and stone tables: a good place to stop for lunch.
The Pla de la Guàrdia. The summit, at 1,125 m, is the viewpoint of the route.
Font de Vila-Vella. On the way down; it flows only sometimes.
Back to Prades, closing the circle.

The Town Council publishes the route on its fountain routes page; also ask for the map at the tourist office and bring the route downloaded on your phone.
Water and season
The three constantly flowing springs let you refill your bottle, but the Town Council warns that the water from the springs outside the village has no health guarantee: it receives no treatment. Bring water from home for the whole route and, if you drink from a spring, do so knowing it is not monitored.
The best time is spring and autumn. In summer, set off very early and check the fire risk level on the Pla Alfa beforehand, which can restrict access to the woods. In winter it can freeze at the summit and it gets dark early: don’t start the route after lunch.
Who it is for
For teenagers and adults who walk regularly. Eleven kilometres with almost 600 m of accumulated ascent is long for small children; for them, the Roca Foradada, 1.5 km from the village, is better. It can be done with a dog; bring water for it too.
If the weather changes
The first part, along the Camí del Pla, is flat and close to the village: if the sky turns nasty before you start to climb, turn back there. In fog or storm, don’t climb to the summit.
Before and after
Call in at the tourist office first, on Carrer Muralla, and leave your car outside the centre. On your return, in the square you have DPrades Gastroteca or the Fonda Espasa, on Plaça de Sant Roc. If you stay overnight, the night can be rounded off at the Parc Astronòmic.
- **Tossal de la Baltasana, the roof of the Muntanyes de Prades** (Teenagers and adults · Self-guided · free): What it is
The Tossal de la Baltasana is the highest summit of the Muntanyes de Prades and of two districts, the Baix Camp and the Conca de Barberà. It is about 2 km in a straight line from the village, between Prades and Vimbodí i Poblet, in the ridge that separates the Ebro basin, via the Montsant river, from that of the Francolí. At the top there is a trig point. On a clear day, the Town Council says you can see the Pyrenees.
The height changes according to the source: the Town Council gives 1,203 m on its routes and 1,201 m on the fountains one; the Viquipèdia gives 1,200.9 m. Count on about 1,200 m. It is one of the summits on the cent cims list of the Federació d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya.
The Pyrenean oak
What makes the climb special is the forest. The Roure Reboll route passes through the only population of Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) in Catalonia, which grows mainly around the Coll de la Foguina, the Tossal de la Baltasana, the Coll del Bosc, the Coll de l’Arena and the Pla del Bosc. It is distinguished from other oaks by its large, velvety-feeling leaves. On the path you will also find chestnuts, holly, strawberry trees, hazels and mountain rock-rose, which gives off its characteristic scent.
How to climb it
The Town Council proposes two itineraries, published with their track on Wikiloc on the municipal website:

Roure Reboll route with a detour to the summit. Halfway along, at the Coll del Bosc, the detour towards the Tossal de la Baltasana leaves. You climb, look around and return to the col to continue the route.
Fountains route 3, Coronant pics. It shares part of the path with the Roure Reboll one, passes over the summit and continues along the Coves d’en Pere, from where you can get close to the ice wells and the Roca del Gríngol. Along the way there are springs, such as the one at the Obis mine or the one at Mas d’en Pagès, which always flow.

The long-distance footpath GR 171 passes near the summit. The municipal website does not publish distance or ascent for these itineraries: download the track before setting off and check the figures there, or ask at the tourist office, at Carrer Muralla, 3 (977 868 302).
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best times, with the oak and chestnut woods in leaf. In summer, climb early and check the fire risk on the Generalitat’s Pla Alfa, which can restrict access to the woods. In winter the summit may have ice or snow some days; check the forecast. To see the Pyrenees, choose a clear day.
Water and safety
Bring water from home. The springs along the path are natural and the Town Council warns that they have no health guarantee. In fog navigation gets harder: bring the track downloaded and don’t leave the paths. If the weather turns, go back the way you came.
Who it is for
For teenagers and adults who walk regularly. With small children, the walk to the Roca Foradada is better. Dogs can come; bring water for them too.
Round out the day
Return to Prades to eat at DPrades Gastroteca, on the Plaça Major, or at the Braseria La Taverna, on Carrer del Centre, and if you stay overnight, reserve a place for a night at the Parc Astronòmic.
- **Treetop circuits and zip lines at Prades Aventura** (From age 6 on the sky circuit, from 8 and 1.35 m on the forest one · Desde 19 € per person): What it is
Prades Aventura is the village’s adventure park: bridges and games among the trees, a climbing wall and zip lines in the forest, plus ground activities for the little ones. The vertical part is called TotpelsAires and has more than 200 m of zip lines. You are always accompanied by an instructor, who gives you the safety equipment and explains how to use it before you start. The lifelines are continuous: unlike the classic two-carabiner system, you are never left unclipped.
The two TotpelsAires circuits

Forest circuit. Medium difficulty: 12 games and bridges at a moderate height among the trees, designed so that everyone can do them without a hard time. It ends with an optional super zip line of almost 100 m. Recommended minimum age, 8 years and 1.35 m in height.
Sky circuit. Climbing on an approved 6 m climbing wall, with easy routes suitable for everyone, and an optional super zip line of more than 100 m that starts from the top of the structure. Recommended minimum age, 6 years.

Prices

1 to 3 people: €21 per person per circuit.
Group of 4 or more: €19 per person per circuit.
Both circuits: €35 per person, or €32 in a group.

For the little ones
For children too young for the circuits, the TotPark combines activities in the forest and in the open: archery with suction-cup arrows, giant logic games, a maze, a barefoot circuit and a Vertikal kids. It is recommended from age 3. The company also has a tailor-made circuit for the little ones to get started with heights.
The same park offers paintball and paintball kids in a Wild West village, Western Ride, with agility, strength and team-skill challenges, and an escape room, also with a western setting. If you are in a group or with older kids, they can be combined.
How to book
Book on the Prades Aventura website, on each activity’s page, or on 621 227 283 and pradesaventura@gmail.com. The website does not publish the opening calendar or hours: confirm them when you book, especially outside summer and weekends. Wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty, closed sports shoes and tie back long hair; take off rings and bracelets before going up.
How long
The website gives no duration per circuit. With one circuit and the zip line, allow a good hour; with both and the TotPark for the little ones, a morning or an afternoon.
Who it is for
For families with children from age 6 on the sky circuit and from 8 on the forest one, and for teenagers looking for a bit of vertigo without a technical challenge. Adults can do it too. The super zip lines are optional on both circuits.
Round out the day
In the afternoon, the short walk to the Roca Foradada or a stroll around the vila vermella, and if you are staying overnight, a night at the Parc Astronòmic. For older kids, the same company offers mountain-bike outings.
- **Festa de la Pagesia and Prades Bosc, autumn in the square** (Free entry · community breakfast €4 and wild boar dinner €20 in 2026): What they are and what you see
In autumn Prades has two festivals that fill the Plaça Major, the arcaded red-stone square of the vila vermella (red village). The Festa de la Pagesia, in mid-October, celebrates the land: a community breakfast with Prades potatoes, an exhibition of local produce and a round of popular competitions. Prades Bosc, straddling October and November, is dedicated to the forest: chestnut sales at the gateway, a wild boar dinner and a chainsaw competition in the square. Both are organised by the Town Council and are village festivals, not stage shows: you come to eat, to watch and, if you feel like it, to compete.
When
The Festa de la Pagesia was held on 10 and 11 October 2026, and the 15th edition of Prades Bosc from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The 2027 dates have not yet been announced. The Town Council publishes the programme for each festival on its website a few days beforehand, in the tourism news section.
Festa de la Pagesia programme
Using the 2026 programme as a guide:

Saturday afternoon, 19:00 to 20:00: handing out ingredients for the potato-dish competition (omelettes, stews and other recipes). It needs a minimum of twenty participants or it is cancelled.
Sunday at 9:30: community breakfast for €4, with baked potatoes, herring with muscat grapes, Prades longaniza sausage and wine.
Sunday morning: the 30th Exhibition of local produce, with local products, crafts and food, on the Plaça Major.
Sunday competitions: potato peeling at 11:00 (over-18s, five minutes), waiters with a tray at 11:30 (over-18s) and hazelnut cracking at 12:00, with a category for under-12s. The prize-giving is at 13:30.

In 2026 the Town Council warned that there would be no tastings.
Prades Bosc programme
In 2026, the chestnut sale at the Portal de Prades, run by the school parents’ association and the secondary school pupils, ran over all three days. On Saturday there was a chestnut-roast tea-dinner at the Casal d’Avis and, at 21:00, the Prades Bosc wild boar dinner at the Centre Cívic: €20, cash only, limited places and no adapted menus. On Sunday, from 11:00 to 14:00, the chainsaw competition in the Plaça Major, and at 19:30 the free theatre and music show El Sonall, with prior registration.
Getting there and where to park
Prades is at about 950 metres above sea level, at the end of winding roads that climb from the Camp de Tarragona and the Conca de Barberà: allow an hour by car from Tarragona or Lleida and about two from Barcelona. The centre, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave your car on the streets outside and walk in through the gateway to the square. The 2026 programmes did not announce traffic closures or special car parks. There is a bus and taxi, but with few timetables.
Tickets and price
Both festivals are free to enter. You pay for what you consume: in 2026, the community breakfast cost €4 and the wild boar dinner, €20. Registrations for the competitions and the dinner are made at the tourist office, on Carrer Muralla, a few days ahead: registration for the dinner closed on 28 October.
Practical tips
On festival Sundays the square fills up: arrive before ten if you want to have breakfast in peace. With children, the hazelnut-cracking competition has a category for under-12s and the chestnut stalls at the gateway are run by children and young people from the school and secondary school. At 950 metres, an October morning can be cold: bring a coat even if it is nice down below.
Make the most of the trip. In the afternoon, the walk around the vila vermella or the short walk to the Roca Foradada; and if you stay overnight, a night of stars at the astronomy park.
- **Guided beginners’ canyoning in the Muntanyes de Prades** (Beginners and families with children · €49 per person for 3 to 8 · €60 if there are two of you): What it is
A canyon descent means going down the bed of a river or mountain stream following the water: abseils, jumps and swimming sections, with the equipment supplied by the company. In the Muntanyes de Prades the canyons are beginner level, which makes it a good way to try it for the first time, including as a family with children.
It is run by Gorg Aventura, a guiding company from Prades founded in 2014 which works with sports technicians qualified in canyoning and mid-mountain activities. It is their main activity. The guide chooses the canyon according to the water flow at the time.
What the activity is like

Duration: half a day, morning or afternoon.
Level: beginner. No experience is needed; the guide explains the techniques before each step.
What is included: the descent, all individual and group equipment, a qualified and experienced guide, public liability and accident insurance, and photos of the activity.
What you do: go down the stream with abseils, optional jumps and swimming sections, with stops to enjoy the scenery.

When it runs
In spring, summer and early autumn. The canyons need enough water to make the descent properly, so outside that season, or in very dry years, there may be no departures. In summer it is the most welcome activity in these mountains: you spend the morning in the water.
Price

If there are two of you: €60 per person.
From 3 to 8 people: €49 per person.

The price includes the equipment, the guide, insurance and photos.
What to bring

Swimwear, preferably the brief type, as the company asks.
Sports clothes and sports shoes that can get wet, with a good sole.
A change of clothes and shoes for afterwards.
Water and something to eat for before or after.

How to book and where you meet
Book with Gorg Aventura on their website, on 606 82 73 78 or at info@gorgaventura.com. The company does not publish the meeting point or the minimum age on its website: ask when you book, especially if you are going with children, along with each person’s wetsuit size. For an activity that depends on water flow, confirm the outing a day or two beforehand.
Who it is for
For families with children who are confident in the water, teenagers and adults with no experience. It helps to be able to swim and not mind cold water; if anyone doesn’t swim well or has vertigo, say so when you book.
Other activities from the same company
Gorg Aventura also guides via ferratas, abseiling and caving in the area, and organises activities in other areas. If you like it, that is the way to carry on.
Round out the day
After the canyon, a meal in the village: DPrades Gastroteca, on the main square, or the Fonda Espasa. If you are with children and have energy left, the adventure park is in the same village.
- **Mountain biking on the tracks of the Muntanyes de Prades** (From age 10 · Desde 15 € per person): What it is
The Muntanyes de Prades have dozens of kilometres of tracks and trails of every level, and many start from the village itself. If you don’t bring a bike, Prades Aventura, the village’s adventure park, offers mountain-bike outings around the area with its own bikes. It is the simplest way to get to know the tracks without carrying the bike in the car.
What Prades Aventura offers

MTB outing around Prades, on the company’s mountain bike.
Price: €15 per person, whether you are one to three or a group of four or more.
Recommended minimum age: from 10 years.
Booking: on the Prades Aventura website, on the MTB outings page, or on 621 227 283 and pradesaventura@gmail.com.

For schools they also run a route inside their grounds. The website does not give details of the outing’s duration, whether it goes with a guide or whether there are electric bikes or children’s sizes: ask when you book, along with the route they suggest for your level.
Where you ride
The company does not publish a fixed itinerary, and speaks of routes of every difficulty. Around Prades you have, for example, the long flat straight of the Camí del Pla, towards La Febró and Capafonts, and the forest tracks of the sierra. If you go on your own, remember that the Town Council’s walking routes, such as the Pla de la Guàrdia one, share paths with walkers: slow down and give way.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best times: mild temperatures and dry tracks. In summer, set off first thing and avoid midday. On days of high fire risk, the Generalitat’s Pla Alfa can restrict traffic on forest tracks and entry into the woods: check the day before. In winter there may be ice in the shaded areas.
What to bring

Helmet: ask whether they include one; if you have your own, bring it.
Water from home, at least a litre per person. The Town Council warns that the fountains outside the village have no health guarantee.
Comfortable clothes, gloves and sunglasses.
Something to eat and a phone with battery.

Who it is for
For teenagers from age 10 and adults who are comfortable cycling on tracks. If it is your first time in the mountains, say so when you book so the route is easy. For children under 10, the company does not recommend it: the same company’s adventure park works better for them.
Round out the day
Go back to the village to eat, for example at Braseria La Taverna or Pizzeria La Botiga, and stroll afterwards around the red village (vila vermella).

## Dónde comer
- **Hotel Restaurant Fonda Espasa** (Restaurant, Prades, €€). Qué pedir: the *fonda* menu of the day; ask when you book.
- **Braseria La Taverna** (Restaurant, Prades, €€). Qué pedir: chargrilled meat.
- **DPrades Gastroteca** (Bar, Prades, €€). Qué pedir: something to nibble on the terrace of the arcaded square.
- **Pizzeria La Botiga** (Restaurant, Prades, €). Qué pedir: pizza, the easy option with children.
- **El Súper de Prades** (Supermarket, Prades).

## By car: Drive up, then walk
The car takes you up and the rest is done on foot: the square, the Roca Foradada and l'Abellera all start from the same old town.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–110 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Restaurant La Botiga** (Small hotel): Sleeping on the square
Hotel Restaurant La Botiga stands on the main square, the arcaded plaza with the globe-shaped fountain that is the symbol of the town, with the church of Santa Maria beside it. You sleep right on the square, with dinner downstairs and no need to get back in the car. It is registered in the Catalan tourism register as a hotel, and in the house next door, at number 13, is Pizzeria La Botiga, run by the same group.
Rooms and meals
Ask when you book what type of room you will be given and whether breakfast is included. For dinner you have two options in the same building, the hotel restaurant and the pizzeria, which is the easiest choice if you are travelling with children.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or from Lleida along winding roads, and about two from Barcelona. The old town, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave the car in the streets outside and walk in through the gate that leads to the square. The coach stops at plaça de Sant Roc, two minutes away, but with few departures. Book on 977 868 321 or 629 138 002.
What to do nearby
The square is the centre of the walk around the red town. On foot you can reach the Roca Foradada, 1.5 km away, and the Abellera hermitage. At night, the Parc Astronòmic, in the old town. In autumn come the Festa de la Pagesia and Prades Bosc.
- **Hotel Restaurant Fonda Espasa** (Small hotel): A village inn
The Fonda Espasa is a hotel and restaurant in the same house, on Plaça de Sant Roc, where the coach stops, a two-minute walk from the Plaça Major. It is registered in the Catalan tourism register as a hotel and appears in the town council’s list of accommodation. It is the option for anyone who wants to sleep in the village, have dinner downstairs and not depend on their own kitchen.
Rooms and meals
It has no website of its own describing the rooms: ask when you book what type of room you will be given and whether breakfast is included. What is certain is that the house has a restaurant, with a fonda menu that changes by the day, and that at weekends it is best to book the table as well.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or Lleida along winding roads. The centre, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave your car on the streets outside and walk in. Without a car, the coach stops at Plaça de Sant Roc itself, although with few timetables; there is a taxi in the village. You book on 977 868 023 or 654 367 915, or by email.
What to do nearby
From the door you have the one-hour walk around the vila vermella, and the Roca Foradada and the l’Abellera hermitage start on foot. At night, the Parc Astronòmic, in the same centre. For a day in the mountains, the Pla de la Guàrdia circular or the Tossal de la Baltasana.
- **Can Llorenç Rural Tourist Apartments** (Apartment): The family home, in the heart of the centre
Can Llorenç is the family’s house, where they have lived for generations, on Passatge de la Muralla, in the heart of Prades’ centre. Since 2005 it has had five tourist apartments that the family itself designed, built and runs. The walls and the Gothic arch that faces the little square are medieval, and according to village lore the house stands where the old Jewish dye works once was: that is why the little square of the apartments is called the plaça del tint (dye square). You are less than a minute from the Plaça Major and a few metres from the tourist office: with children, your own kitchen and everything on foot.
The apartments
Each one is named after a figure from Prades. Margarida de Prades, Mateu Fletxa, Melcior Font and El Nen de Prades are for four to six people; Fra Boïl, for two to four. The Margarida de Prades and the Fra Boïl, for example, are on two floors: downstairs, a fitted kitchen, dining-lounge and bathroom, and upstairs the bedrooms. The first has a bedroom with a double bed and another with bunk beds, and the sofa in the lounge opens out as a double bed; the second, a double bedroom and the same sofa bed. Bed linen and towels are included.
There is no restaurant: you shop in the village and cook at home, or go down to the square for dinner, a minute away.
Getting there
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or Lleida along winding roads. The centre has narrow, steep streets: leave your car outside the wall and walk in. You book on its website, on 607 38 10 04 or on 607 38 10 05.
What to do nearby
Without taking the car you have the walk around the vila vermella, the Roca Foradada, 1.5 km away, and the l’Abellera hermitage. With children, the adventure park and, at night, the Parc Astronòmic.
- **Cal Crispí** (Country house): A village house for walking and stargazing
A casa de pagès (farmhouse guesthouse) on Carrer Nou del Pont, inside the village, which the house presents as a refuge in the heart of the Muntanyes de Prades: traditional architecture with today’s comforts. It has five rooms and a courtyard with a garden and trees, and is designed for those who come to walk, cycle or look at the night sky.
The rooms
Each room has its own bathroom. The largest is the Estudi, of 37 m², with a double bed and two singles for four people; it faces the courtyard garden, as does the Triple Matrimonio, with a double bed and a single. The Doble Campanar, of 35 m², and the Doble are for two, and the Triple Individuals has three single beds.
Eating in the house
There is a buffet breakfast, paid separately. Guests can use a fully equipped kitchen free of charge, from 11:00 to 22:00, to make their own lunch or dinner, and have dinner in the dining-lounge with a fireplace. There is wifi throughout the house.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, at the end of winding roads: by car, an hour from Tarragona or Lleida. The centre has narrow streets; the house lets you leave your luggage in front of the door and has outdoor parking. There is a coach to Plaça de Sant Roc, with few timetables. You book on its website or on 689 02 24 10.
What to do nearby
You can set out on foot towards the Roca Foradada or the l’Abellera hermitage, and the walk around the vila vermella is at the door. At night, the Parc Astronòmic star session. If you want a long day, the Pla de la Guàrdia circular or the Tossal de la Baltasana.
- **El Xalet de Prades** (Country house): A rural resort for sleeping under the sky
On Riu Brugent street, on the edge of the town, El Xalet brings together more than forty places to stay of very different kinds: wooden igloos with glass roofs, tree houses, wooden cabins, rural rooms and two large houses, El Xalet and La Casa Gran. It is designed above all for couples and families, and for anyone who comes up to Prades to see the stars.
The accommodation
The star igloos are wooden domes with a 360-degree transparent vault: an open-plan space with the double bed right underneath, a slate bathroom with shower and bath, heating and air conditioning; a cot is available, and there are family and premium versions. The tree houses are wooden cabins high up in the trees, set apart from each other, with a double bed, an extra bed for up to three children, a cot if you ask for one, heating and a bathroom with a hydromassage bath. The wooden cabins are the roomiest for families, sleeping four to ten people.
Eating and what the resort offers
The restaurant, La Llosa, works with local produce and recipes from the area. It serves a buffet breakfast and dinners every day, and lunches at weekends and on public holidays; it has a children's menu for under-8s, an à la carte menu and pizzas. It is small: book a table. It also opens to people who are not staying there.
For children there is a farm with hens, lambs and horses, a henhouse where they collect eggs, pony rides for under-25 kg on Saturday mornings, a playground and a play area. There is a swimming pool in summer, barbecues, a free bike workshop and a spa with jacuzzis and sauna, for over-12s only.
Getting there
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or from Lleida along winding roads. Check-in at the wooden cabins and the large houses is from 15:00 in winter and from 17:00 in summer; reception closes at 20:00, and at 21:00 on Fridays. If you arrive later, call 661 718 093 beforehand.
What to do nearby
The Parc Astronòmic completes a night of stargazing. By day, the Roca Foradada, the walk around the red town, the adventure park or mountain biking on the tracks of the Muntanyes de Prades.
- **Càmping Prades Park** (Campsite): A mountain campsite beside the village
On the way out of the village along the T-701, about 200 metres from Prades, on the right-hand side. It has 80 pitches for tents, caravans, motorhomes and campervans, and a good number of bungalows and mobile homes. It is run by Josep Sans, and as well as accommodation it organises entertainment, astronomy outings, wine tourism and bike and MTB routes, and sports stays for groups.
The accommodation
The wooden bungalows for families are almost all for four, with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, bathroom, heating and a barbecue, private or shared. Some are named after the surroundings, such as the Siurana, the Baltasana Sky or the Bosc; the Casa Màgica is themed, for two adults and two children, with bunk beds, and the Casa de la Pagesa has a fireplace. The Vila Vermella e-bike keeps the bike in a shed with a socket for charging it. The mobile homes and family villas, for four to six, accept pets. For two there are suites, a wooden igloo and the Niu, the smallest. Two bungalows of the Tossal type are adapted for wheelchairs, and others have only a single step at the entrance.
Eating and services
At the entrance is the Comtes de Prades restaurant, also open to non-guests: traditional mountain cooking with Mediterranean touches, hearty breakfasts such as butifarra sausage with beans and eggs, and a terrace in good weather. The Sport & Lounge Bar serves cold tapas, drinks and ice cream. The mini-market sells the basics, barbecue supplies and bread and pastries to order.
There are two swimming pools, one for the little ones, heated with solar panels and open from Sant Joan (24 June) to 11 September, with a lifeguard. A playground, a games room that becomes a mini-disco or cinema at night, padel, football, beach volleyball and basketball courts, and washing machines. The facilities block, renovated in 2015, has an accessible bathroom and a baby-changing area. The Roca Vermella spa offers a thermal circuit, which is booked online.
Getting there
From the AP-2, exit 9, Montblanc, along the N-240 towards L’Espluga de Francolí and then Vimbodí, Vallclara and Vilanova de Prades. Tarragona is 51 km away and the nearest railway station, Vimbodí, 20 km.
What to do nearby
From the campsite you walk to the village: walk around the vila vermella, Roca Foradada, adventure park and, at night, the Parc Astronòmic. For a long day, mountain biking or the Tossal de la Baltasana.
### Servicios
- **L'Abellera hermitage car park**: Free · open area a few metres from the hermitage, on the Capafonts road
- **Agrícola Montsant service station**: T-700 road, km 21.9 · 977 868 065

## By motorbike: Mountain bends an hour from Tarragona
Prades can only be reached by mountain roads climbing from the Camp de Tarragona, the Conca de Barberà and the Priorat. It is a classic stop for lunch on the square before riding on.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–110 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're on a motorbike
- **Hotel Restaurant La Botiga** (Small hotel): Sleeping on the square
Hotel Restaurant La Botiga stands on the main square, the arcaded plaza with the globe-shaped fountain that is the symbol of the town, with the church of Santa Maria beside it. You sleep right on the square, with dinner downstairs and no need to get back in the car. It is registered in the Catalan tourism register as a hotel, and in the house next door, at number 13, is Pizzeria La Botiga, run by the same group.
Rooms and meals
Ask when you book what type of room you will be given and whether breakfast is included. For dinner you have two options in the same building, the hotel restaurant and the pizzeria, which is the easiest choice if you are travelling with children.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or from Lleida along winding roads, and about two from Barcelona. The old town, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave the car in the streets outside and walk in through the gate that leads to the square. The coach stops at plaça de Sant Roc, two minutes away, but with few departures. Book on 977 868 321 or 629 138 002.
What to do nearby
The square is the centre of the walk around the red town. On foot you can reach the Roca Foradada, 1.5 km away, and the Abellera hermitage. At night, the Parc Astronòmic, in the old town. In autumn come the Festa de la Pagesia and Prades Bosc.
- **Hotel Restaurant Fonda Espasa** (Small hotel): A village inn
The Fonda Espasa is a hotel and restaurant in the same house, on Plaça de Sant Roc, where the coach stops, a two-minute walk from the Plaça Major. It is registered in the Catalan tourism register as a hotel and appears in the town council’s list of accommodation. It is the option for anyone who wants to sleep in the village, have dinner downstairs and not depend on their own kitchen.
Rooms and meals
It has no website of its own describing the rooms: ask when you book what type of room you will be given and whether breakfast is included. What is certain is that the house has a restaurant, with a fonda menu that changes by the day, and that at weekends it is best to book the table as well.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, an hour by car from Tarragona or Lleida along winding roads. The centre, inside the wall, has narrow, steep streets: leave your car on the streets outside and walk in. Without a car, the coach stops at Plaça de Sant Roc itself, although with few timetables; there is a taxi in the village. You book on 977 868 023 or 654 367 915, or by email.
What to do nearby
From the door you have the one-hour walk around the vila vermella, and the Roca Foradada and the l’Abellera hermitage start on foot. At night, the Parc Astronòmic, in the same centre. For a day in the mountains, the Pla de la Guàrdia circular or the Tossal de la Baltasana.
- **Cal Crispí** (Country house): A village house for walking and stargazing
A casa de pagès (farmhouse guesthouse) on Carrer Nou del Pont, inside the village, which the house presents as a refuge in the heart of the Muntanyes de Prades: traditional architecture with today’s comforts. It has five rooms and a courtyard with a garden and trees, and is designed for those who come to walk, cycle or look at the night sky.
The rooms
Each room has its own bathroom. The largest is the Estudi, of 37 m², with a double bed and two singles for four people; it faces the courtyard garden, as does the Triple Matrimonio, with a double bed and a single. The Doble Campanar, of 35 m², and the Doble are for two, and the Triple Individuals has three single beds.
Eating in the house
There is a buffet breakfast, paid separately. Guests can use a fully equipped kitchen free of charge, from 11:00 to 22:00, to make their own lunch or dinner, and have dinner in the dining-lounge with a fireplace. There is wifi throughout the house.
Getting there and parking
Prades is at 950 metres, at the end of winding roads: by car, an hour from Tarragona or Lleida. The centre has narrow streets; the house lets you leave your luggage in front of the door and has outdoor parking. There is a coach to Plaça de Sant Roc, with few timetables. You book on its website or on 689 02 24 10.
What to do nearby
You can set out on foot towards the Roca Foradada or the l’Abellera hermitage, and the walk around the vila vermella is at the door. At night, the Parc Astronòmic star session. If you want a long day, the Pla de la Guàrdia circular or the Tossal de la Baltasana.
### Servicios
- **L'Abellera hermitage car park**: Free · open area a few metres from the hermitage, on the Capafonts road
- **Agrícola Montsant service station**: T-700 road, km 21.9 · 977 868 065

## With young children: Short distances and a stone arch

Prades works with small children because everything is close: the old town fits into an hour and the Roca Foradada into a relaxed morning.

### What works best
The Roca Foradada: 1.5 km with little climb, a picnic and a pond at the end

A stroll round the old town, with the square's fountain and the Font d'en Grau park

The Selene session at the astronomy park, from age 2

### Where to sleep
Apartments in the old town, with a kitchen

Bungalows at Càmping Prades Park

### Where to eat
Pizzeria on plaça Major

A picnic with shopping from the village supermarket

### Worth knowing
Steep streets inside the old town: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair

To the Roca Foradada, take the pushchair only on the paved section

It is cold at night even in summer

### Qué hacer with young children
- A walk around the *vila vermella*, from the gateway to the wall
- Roca Foradada, the red stone arch beside the village
- A night of stars at the Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades

## As a family: A whole weekend on foot

With children of different ages, Prades is good for two days: short walks, an adventure park and a night of stars.

### What works best
The Prades Aventura circuits: the sky ones from age 6, the forest ones from 8

The astronomy park, with sessions by age

L'Abellera with the key from the tourist office

### Where to sleep
Igloos and tree houses at El Xalet de Prades

Apartments for 6 in the centre

### Where to eat
Pizzeria and grill in the old town

Village breakfast at the Festa de la Pagesia, in October

### Worth knowing
The astronomy park has limited places

The forest circuit requires a height of 1.35 m

### Qué hacer as a family
- A walk around the *vila vermella*, from the gateway to the wall
- Roca Foradada, the red stone arch beside the village
- The Abellera hermitage, wedged into the cliff
- A night of stars at the Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades
- Treetop circuits and zip lines at Prades Aventura
- Festa de la Pagesia and Prades Bosc, autumn in the square
- Guided beginners’ canyoning in the Muntanyes de Prades

## With teenagers: Canyon, bike and a summit

For a teenager, Prades is a base for activities: guided canyoning, mountain bike tracks and the summit of the range.

### What works best
Introductory canyoning with Gorg Aventura, from spring to early autumn

Mountain bike hire, from age 10

The Pla de la Guàrdia loop: 11 km and 590 m of ascent

### Where to sleep
Càmping Prades Park, with bungalows

Glass-roofed igloos, if a night under the stars appeals

### Where to eat
Grill in the old town

Sandwiches from the supermarket for the walk

### Worth knowing
Canyoning only with water flow: in a dry summer there may be no departures

The Kosmic session at the astronomy park is recommended from age 12

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- The Abellera hermitage, wedged into the cliff
- A night of stars at the Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades
- Camí del Pla and Pla de la Guàrdia circular walk
- Tossal de la Baltasana, the roof of the Muntanyes de Prades
- Treetop circuits and zip lines at Prades Aventura
- Guided beginners’ canyoning in the Muntanyes de Prades
- Mountain biking on the tracks of the Muntanyes de Prades

## With a dog: Mountains, a red-stone village and three places to sleep

Prades gets on well with dogs: the routes start on foot from the village, the old town can be walked in full with the dog on a lead and three accommodations accept dogs, each with its own conditions. At the astronomy park, the dog stays out of the visitor centre.

### Routes
Roca Foradada, 1.5 km from the village, almost no climbing: with the dog on a lead

Ermita de l'Abellera, on foot or almost to the door by car, on a lead

Tossal de la Baltasana and Pla de la Guàrdia, long: carry water for the dog too

### In the village
The walk through the Vila Vermella, with fountains in the squares

Astronomy park: outside, on a lead, yes; inside the visitor centre, no

### Where to sleep
Cal Crispí, with a daily supplement

El Xalet de Prades: one per accommodation, in the wooden houses and the large houses

Càmping Prades Park: in villas and mobile homes, not in the family bungalows

### Worth knowing
On a lead in the village and in the accommodation grounds

On the long routes there are no safe fountains along the way

Say so when you book: each accommodation limits the number of dogs

### Qué hacer with a dog
- A walk around the *vila vermella*, from the gateway to the wall
- Roca Foradada, the red stone arch beside the village
- The Abellera hermitage, wedged into the cliff
- A night of stars at the Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades
- Camí del Pla and Pla de la Guàrdia circular walk
- Tossal de la Baltasana, the roof of the Muntanyes de Prades

### Dónde dormir with a dog
- Cal Crispí: Dogs accepted, with a daily supplement
- El Xalet de Prades: One dog per accommodation in the wooden cabins, El Xalet and La Casa Gran; on a lead within the grounds
- Càmping Prades Park: In villas, mobile homes and some accommodation for two; not in the family bungalows

## Consejos

### Ask for the key to the Abellera
It is collected free of charge at the tourist office against a €20 cash deposit and opens the hermitage enclosure for two hours.

### Look at the stone up close
La Costa del Castell is the street with the most red stone in the village.

### Book the sky in good time
The astronomical park sessions have limited places and depend on clear skies.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Why is it called the vila vermella (red town)?
Because of the reddish sandstone of the area, with which many of its houses, the wall and the church were built.

### What is special about the fountain in the square?
It is Renaissance, made of red stone and shaped like a globe, with four bronze spouts pointing to the cardinal points. It is the symbol of the village.

### Can I go with small children?
Yes. The walk around the old town is short and the Roca Foradada is 1.5 km from the village, with little climb. The astronomical park has a session designed for under-8s.

### When is the Potato Festival?
The potato is the star of the Festa de la Pagesia, which in 2026 was on 10 and 11 October, with a communal breakfast, a market of local produce and competitions. The castanyada (chestnut festival) comes with Prades Bosc, from 30 October to 1 November 2026.

### Do I have to pay to enter anywhere?
The village and the routes are free. You pay for the astronomical park, the adventure park and guided activities.

### Where is the tourist office?
At Carrer Muralla 3, next to the Centre d'Interpretació de les Muntanyes de Prades. It is open every morning and some afternoons; telephone 977 868 302.